Warning

Two members of the state-qualifying Powell High School girls’ basketball team and three members of the Panther boys’ basketball team have received all-conference honors in the 3A West.

Seniors Leslie Thronburg, Olivia Rogers and Zane Bushnell, junior Chase Partridge and sophomore Marshall McArthur were selected by the conference’s coaches for recognition. All five were also considered for all-state designation, but did not appear when those rosters were released.

The Yellowstone Quake are searching for a new head coach following the resignation last week of Craig Furstenau. Furstenau resigned shortly after the Quake were swept by Helena in the first round of the playoffs.

Quake team president Bob Bole said Furstenau offered no reason for his decision. Furstenau did not return a phone message left seeking comment.

It has been exactly two years since The Sports Guy arrived in Powell. Yours truly is still enjoying life here in the Big Horn Basin. Our little clan loves waking up to the view of mountains in every direction and we’re not planning on leaving any time soon.

But if the opportunity ever presents itself, I think I’d have to accept an offer to become a bracketologist.

Basketball season came to a rough end for the Powell Panthers at the 2011 State 3A basketball tournament in Casper. Hindered by shooting difficulties throughout the weekend, the Panthers fell to Buffalo on Thursday before being ousted from the consolation bracket by Torrington on Friday.

The Northwest College Trappers were eliminated from Region IX play following an 80-76 loss to Northeastern in the opening round of action. The Trappers finish 17-14 on the year.

Shane Reader’s free throw with 1:05 remaining gave Northwest a 76-75 lead, but Northeastern answered with a soaring dunk from Region IX scoring leader Widgett Washington. The Colorado school added a pair of free throws on its next possession.

Kyle Sullivan won both the high jump and the 55-meter hurdles and Powell athletes brought home a total of 12 medals from the Wyoming Indoor Track and Field championships over the weekend.

“Kyle was taken to the wire (in the high jump),” said Panther track coach Scott Smith. “If he hadn’t cleared the bar at 6’6”, the Kelly Walsh kid that took second would have won on misses. He really came through when it counted and easily cleared.”

That’s the question that could haunt Powell High School head coach Mike Heny and the members of his Panther boys’ basketball team this off-season. It was the question Panther fans were asking after a mind-numbing 24-hour period saw the team go from the verge of a regional title game appearance to being left out of the 3A state tournament field altogether.

Northwest College has announced the hiring of Shaun Pohlman as the new head coach of the Trappers’ volleyball program on Wednesday. Pohlman comes to Powell from Dodge City Community College in Kansas, where he served as the head coach for four seasons.

Heading into the first round of the NORPAC playoffs, head coach Craig Furstenau knew his team had a challenge ahead in its best-of-five series against the 48-2 Helena Bighorns. On Tuesday night, he saw just how tall that challenge was.

“You cannot make a mistake against those guys,” Furstenau said following a 9-0 Helena victory. “Any little error on your part and they’re able to jump on it.”